Band tightening and sealing tool



July 20, 1943.

BL. WATT ET A1.

BAND TIGHTENING AND sEALINGhTooL Filed Aug. 10.` 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July zo, 1943. B WATT ETAL b2,324,609

BAND TIGHTEING AND SEALING TOOL Filed Aug. l0. 19:59 2 sheets-sheet 2 in the plane of the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 represents a side elevation of one of the sealing elements;

Fig.'l9 represents a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 represents a detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line XX of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 21 represents a detail horizontal section taken in the plane of the line XXI of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 22 represents a vertical section taken in the plane` of the line XXII of Fig. 21, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The tool or device includes a housing that consists of a main body portion I, a lateral extension 2, a bottom 3, and opposite removable side plates 4, 5.

A shaft 6 (Fig. 8) has one end journaled in 8 that finds a bearing in an aperture in side plate 4 and also in a web 9 that is cast integral with the housing. The last named end of shaft 6 protrudes outside of side plate 4 and has an operating handle I keyed thereto and xed in place by a n'ut II.

On an intermediate portion of the shaft is xed a cam I2 that is adapted to depress and elevate the sealing elements on their operative and inoperative strokes. To this end a vertically movable head I3 is mounted to slide between side plate 5 and web 9. This head has upwardly extending bifurcations I4, I5, which support the ends of a roller I6 that cooperates with cam I2 -for the purpose of elevating the head I3 and mechanism carried thereby to inoperative position. A pair of cam rolls I1, I8 (Fig. 9) are mounted in the head I3 below cam I2 for cooperating with it to depress the said head on the downward or operative stroke. From the immediately foregoing description it will be seen that rotative movement of the shaft 6 by means of oscillating handle I0 will vertically reciprocate the head I3 and parts carried thereby.

A plunger I9 is mounted in a vertical bore formed in the lower part of head I3 and secured in position by a pin that is mounted in the head and enters an elongated slot 2I in plunger I9 so as to permit a limited relative vertical movement between the plunger and head. The upper end of the plunger I9 carries a cam roller 22 that is adapted for cooperation with the cam I2 during the downward stroke of this mechanism.

The outline of the cam I2 is shown in Figs. 1 and 11, and, by reference also to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the lower portion of cam I2 has a uniform face but that its upper portion as there shown has the side parts of its face that cooperate with rollers I1, I8, higher than its central part that cooperates with roller 22. It will also be observed that roller 22 is somewhat greater in diameter than rollers I1, I8 and projects slightly above them. As a result of this formation of the said cooperating parts, the effect of the cam during the downward or operative stroke of this mechanism is rst to slightly depress plunger I9 in order to insure that pin 20 is at the top of slot 2|, then simultaneously depress head I3 and plunger I9, and then continue depressing head I3 without further depressing plunger I9 this relative movement of the plunger and head being permitted by the pin depression of plunger I3 is to permit the subsequent depression of the head I3 without corresponding movement of the plunger so as to actuate the sealing elements after the plunger I3 has contacted the strap, as will be set forth.

The lower portion or head of plunger i9 has two series of angularly disposed grooves, three on cach side, in which are mounted six punches or sealing elements that are numbered 23, 24, 29, 26, 21, 28 (Fig. l2). The sets of punches are held in position in the plunger I9 by plates 29, 39 that are fastened to the plunger by series of screws 3l, 32; and, as well shown in Fig. 18, the plungers have T heads, as indicated at 33, which fit in recesses 34, 35, formed in head I3, while the shanks of the said punches are received in slotted flanges 36, 31 also formed on the head I3. The arrangement of parts just described serves firmly to hold the punches 23 to 23 inclusive in position while permitting reciprocatory sliding movement thereof in the angular grooves in plunger I9, which sliding movement is caused by the relative movement of plunger I9 and head I3 under the influence of cam I2, as already explained, and serves the purpose of punching and sealing the strap or band as will be hereinafter described.

It maybe here stated that, in order to facilitate the operation of the punches, they are made slighty different in length, preferably by varying the length of their punching blades; and that this difference in length preferably involves three pairs of the six punches, with the punches of each pair equal in length. Thus, we have found it advantageous to make punches Nos. 24 and 25 the same in length and the longest of any pair; punches Nos. 2-3 and 28 the same in length and a little shorter than the previously named4 pair; while punches Nos. 26 and 27 are the same in length and the shortest of the three pairs. While the amount of this difference in length may change within reasonable limits, we flnd it desirable to make the difference in length between any two pairs about ve one-thousandths of an inch. This arrangement serves to provide a successive action of each pair of punches during the operative sealing stroke as distinguished from simultaneous action, and thereby renders the said operation easier to perform from the point of view of muscular power, thus also leading to uniformity because the operation will be firmly and completely effected even though the operative be relatively weary because of the hour of the working day, or otherwise indisposed.

Turning now to the mechanism for tensioning the strap or band, a shaft 38 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) is journaled in a side of the main body portion I of the housing and in side plate 4 and has an outwardly protruding end to which is pinned a foot 39 that is preferably roughened vor serrated on its lower extremity for cooperation with a serrated plug 40 that is preferably composed of hardened material and set into a laterally projecting portion of housing bottom 3. The part of shaft 38 that lies within the housing has a dog 4I fixed thereon which has its extremity notched or cut away so as to form a shoulder 42 represented in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6. A coll spring 43 surrounds shaft 3B and has one end xed in the shaft and the other end bearing against the housing, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in order normally to urge said shaft in a clockwise direction as the parts are represented in Figs. 5 and 6, and in a counterclockasaeeoo Awise direction as theparts 'are represented in Fig. 1, so as to tend to 'bring the extremity of foot 38 in cooperative relationship to plug 48 for the purpose `of gripping the strap orband during the tensioning operation.' as will be set forth. 1

` Anothershaft 44 is journaled in the main body I of the housing and in side plate 4, near the end of the housing opposite to the location of shaft 38. One end of shaft 44 vprotrudes laterallyfrom the housing on the same side as the protruding end offshaft 38,and it'has fixed thereto a foot 45 which preferably. hasits lower end serrated for cooperationwith a hardened serrated plug`48 that is set into the adjacent lateral extension of housing bottom 3.` The portion ci' shaft 44l that is within` the housing'has afinger `41 pinned thereto, `and a `coil spring 48 surrounds Vsaid shaft, having one, end fastto the pin that secures finger 41 thereon and .the other end bearing against housing I so as normally to urge shaft 44 in a counterclockwise direction as the parts are represented in Figs. and 6; and in a clock- .wise direction as the parts `are represented in V Fig. l, for the purpose of tending to establish cooperative relationship between foot .45 and plug '46 A guide 49 for directingthe lmovementof the strap or band to the sealing mechanism projects laterallyfrom the `housing to a position in Yline with foot 39 and foot 45. Itis carried and projects laterally from a rod 58 that ismounted ,I in the main bodyportion I of the housing and 'extends longitudinally thereof `for a short distanceV between the shafts 38 -and the sealing mechanism. The said guide has a tail piece 5l that is bifurcated. as shown in Fig. 6, andren- Vgages a pin`52 `that is carried in the lower slotted end of a plunger 53 whichis slidagly mounted in a bracket 54 and a boss 55 that-are formed integral with the web 9 of thehousing. A A latch 56 is fixed near the upper end ofplunger 53, and an expansion coil spring 51 is locatedrbetween the said latch and bracket 54 so as norinal'lylw)` urge the plunger in an upward direction.` vAflat member 58 is freely mounted onsleeve Y 18 adjacent'housingside plated; and'l has an `in- ,wardly projecting stud 59 that is `flttedgfor en-` gage'ment ,withv the `radial shoulders v. 8Ii, Hoof a'disk sz tnatls fast to sleeve aandjisjoumaled in housing web '9.l As a result of this construc- I -fun'der -theiniiuence of handle I8 for" a.bou t 180' without 4having any effect upon' member 58 but,

' as soonas either shoulder 6I) or 8l contacts stud 5 8, further `movement of handle III in either direction will Amove member 58 in the same direction. Y u

VThe said member 58 is formed'witha nose 83 vthat -is Vdesigned to abut the extremityof finger the side thereof opposite to nose 83, which lug, rests upon latch 58 and is normally-held in:

dog 4I and is held in place by clips18 and 1I. the former of which isfastened to the top lof housing bottom 3, while'the latter projects from housing web 8 and has a face that serves to guide the inner side of slide 88, justas side plate 4 guides the outer side of said slide. The end of the slide 88 opposite to `that Vcarrying the extension 88 is provided with anenlargement 13 that has slanting 38 normally holds dog 4I in contact with said enlargement 13 Aon As a Vresult of the arrangement just described, it .will be seen that, when handle iilis moved sufiiciently to the right, as indicated `by the difference between the dot-dash lines and the full lines in Fig. 1, the member: 58 will move the slide 88 to the right in Figs. 5 and 6 until the dog 4| rides up the slanting surface of enlarge--l ment 13 and `rests upon the horizontal surface thereof while,simultaneous1y,fthe nose 88 will swing` finger 41 to the right so "as to rotate shaft` A44; and also, concurrently therewith, lug 88 will depress plunger 53. Ihefmovements just `described are illustrated by the difference between the positions of the parts in Fig. 6 and Fig.5,

and the riding up of dog 4I onto the horizontal surface of enlargement 13 will swing foot 38 in aclockwise direction, as the parts are represented in Fig. `l, so as to move it out of cooperative relation with plug 48;' the movement of finger 41 by nose 63 will swing foot 45 in a f counter clockwise direction, so as to move it out of cooperative relation with plug 48; while depressing of plunger 53 will rock rod 58 so as to lift band guide49 out of cooperative relation with the band support 14 that is formed on the sion 15 and a downward v is joumaled in housing bottom3 `immediately below the guide 4,8.V Thus it will be seen that this movement separates or opens the said three pairs of cooperating elements so as to permit thebandfor strap that is to lbe tensioned and sealed to be insertedtherebetween in the operation ofthe tool ordevice, aswillbe hereinafter described. u

` Means is providedmfor temporarily locking certain parts in openposition, which means consists of a double latch having an upward extenextension 18 and a hub 1.1 that is loosely mounted on ashaft 18 which l latchand: has one end fixed .thereto while `the shown in Fig. 6 to the position `shown in Fig. 5,

as aboveexplained, the depressing of plunger 53 will b ringl latch 56 into register withnotch 88 in upward'extension 15 of the double latch, whereupon spring 19 will immediately rotate the Y double latch in a clockwise direction smas to abutment therewith by `the expansive force of spring 51.

The lower part of member 581s formed with a notch 81 that straddles an upward extension 58 on a slide'69 that rides on the top of housing bottom 3 adjacent side plate 4` to `serve as an operative connection between member 58 and 'is causethe extension `15 to the lower extension 18 to catch the latch 55, as indicated in Fig. 5. This same motion will cause catch shoulder 42 that is on dog 4I so as to hold the latterin the position represented in Fig. 5; with thev result that the foot 39 and guide 49 areheld inthe elevated position shownlin Fig. 1.

As soonl as the double catch has thus operated,

and horizontal surfaces. Vand Vthe spring 43 on shaft` i Y the main body l of the housing and in side plate 4, adjacent shaft `38. A coil `spring 18 surrounds the lhub 11j of the double tool then is ready to be brought into operative relation with the band or strap by moving it laterally so that the band enters between foot 39 and plug 40 and guide 49 and support 14; and the foot 45 may, at this moment, be separated from its cooperating plug 46 by again manually moving handle I to the right, as the parts are shown in Fig. l so as to cause nose 63 to swing nger 41 a slight distance in a. clockwise direction. To facilitate this movement of the arm I0, a thumb piece 8| is formed thereon at a convenientlocation for the operative.

After the tool and band or strap have been brought into the relationship just described, the parts 39 and 49 should be released from their elevated positions so as to take their cooperative positions with respect to plug and support 14 respectively. This is accomplished by manipulating a handle 82 that is keyed to shaft 18 and fixed in position thereon by a nut 83. On the said shaft 18, at the side of the double catch away from handle 82, there is pinned a collar 84 which has a shoulder 85 fitted for cooperation with an adjacent shoulder 88 on the hub 11 of the double catch when the shaft 18 is rotated in a. counterclockwise direction. See Fig. 7. spring 81 has one end fixed t0 the collar 84 and another end bearing against the housing so as normally to urge the collar, and hence the'shaft 18, in a clockwise direction. With this arrangement of parts, manipulation of the handle 82 so as to rotate shaft 18 a slight distance in a counterclockwise direction, will bring shoulder 85 in contact with shoulder 86, and thereby turn the double catch in the same direction so as to release its upper extension 11 from the latch 56, and its lower extension 16 from the shoulder 42 on dog 4|. The moment this release is accomplished, spring 51 will elevate plunger 53 so as to bring it again into contact with lug 66 on member 58, as shown in Fig. 6. As already indicated, this releasing of the double catch will permit foot 39 and guide 49 to be moved downwardly into operative position by the springs which control them. j

The end of shaft 18 which is exterior to the housing I and in line with foot 39 has. fixed thereto a disk 88 (Fig, l) that is provided with a gear tooth 89 for engagement with a bifurcated clamp 90 that has an inwardly projecting eccentric stud 9| which is rotatably mounted in a block 92 that is slidably mounted on rod 50 and has a laterally and outwardly projecting lip 93 that rides on housing bottom 3 in line with foot 39 and guide 49. The inner end of the stud 9| is surrounded by a coil spring 94 (Fig. 5) that is secured to the stud and bears against the housing bottom in such a way as normally to urge the stud in a counterclockwise direction, as the parts are shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of bringing the left-hand edge of clamp 90 into operative relationship with lip 93.

Manipulation of the handle 82 will, by imparting rotative movement to the shaft 18, slide block 92 and clamp 90 carried thereby because of the interengagement of gear tooth 89 with the said clamp and, therefore, oscillation of the said handle 82 will reciprocate the said block and clamp, which motion is made use of in the tensioning of the strap or band, as will be explained.

The device also includes an anvil or counter block for cooperation with the punches 23 to 28 inclusive ofthe sealing mechanism, which anvil is denoted by 95 (Fig. 13) and is formed integral with a substantially J-shaped piece 96 that is fastened in the housing by a stud 91 that fits snugly in an orifice 98 formed in web 9 of the housing. See Fig. 8. The arrangement is such that the anvil proper 95 sets into a gap in the lateral extension of the housing bottom 3 so as to be in line with the plugs 40 and 46, support 14, and'lip 93 that cooperate with the foot 39, foot 45, guide 49 and clamp 90. See Fig. 1. As well shown in Fig. 13, the upper surface of the anvil is provided with six recesses, collectively marked 99, that are staggered and fitted to receive the extremitiesof the punches 23 to 28 inclusive as the latter pass through the band or strap for the sealing operation. The top of the anvil is also tapered upwardly from` each side to a central longitudinal ridge |00, and the ends thereof are beveled as indicated at |0| and |02; which shape is for the purpose of `giving a corresponding formation to the seal of the band-or strap, as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive, which formation promotes rigidity of the seal and. tends to prevent entanglementl of the upper end of the strap with other objects that may come in contact therewith.

For the purpose of severing the free and unused end of the strap or band. the plunger I9 carries a curved knife |03 (Fig. 11) that cooperates with a correspondingly shaped cutter |04 which has a round shank |05 that is journaled in an upper half-bearing |06 (Figs. 5 and 6) that is cast integral with the housing and cooperates with a lower support |01 which is carried by a pair of screws |08, |09 threaded into housing bottom 3. Said support |01 lies in a transverse slot formed in shank |05 and itwill be seen that, by elevating one of the screws |08, |09 and depressing the other, the said shank may be rotated and the cutter |04 thereby adjusted with respect to the knife |03 in order to compensate for wear or other cause that may disturb the proper relationship of said parts. The shape of the cutting parts |03, |04, imparts a curved end to the sealed strap or band, as well shown in Figs. 14 and 15, which tends to promote snug contact of the said end with the body of the strap to prevent curling up of the side edges thereof, and thereby to obviate entanglement with other objects.

Before it is severed, the free end of the strap is supported on a grooved shoulder I0 formed on the foot 45 and is frictionally held in place thereon by the inturned lower edge of a curved clamping spring that is fixed by a. screw ||2 on the end of shaft 44.

While the operation of the parts has been described in some detail in connection with the foregoing mechanical explanation, it may be advantageous here to summarize the same by noting that, in operatiomthe strap or band denoted by ||3 (Fig. l) is placed around the bundle, container or other article to be bound with its free ends on the top thereof. The tool is then set in place adjacent the strap or band and the handle I0 moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 so as to swing foot 39 and guide 49 and latch them out of cooperative relationship with plug 40 and support 14, to permit the entrance of the band or strap therebetween. After the foot 39 and guide 49 are thus latched out of operative position, the handle I0 is automatically returned by spring 64 to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. The operative again moves the arm .Illsfrom the kaid'dot-and dash f position towardethegfun l,une position byrfemi upon thumbv pieoel|i soas to f ootIJrol'n cooperative relationship `Zvvithvplu,4O I:.He taneously pullsha'ndletll 'a.-"'sli"'g1"itJ distance to the left from its full line `position'a'sf'shc'iw'n'yiri jl'ig. ,1, thereby rocking ycla-:np el' onzits stud ,Q to move itf out ofcontactfwith 11h03. iWith'thje parts `in `this`posltlonytheftoolgisjfn'ioved laterally 'with- 'tqgether immediatelyA beforethe `action 1 of thefpunches, by a projection `I Ilv (Fig. 12) ythat hefpunches whendntheir retractedposition;

`-.a.jnddotf position represented 'in Fig.` `1, (and it and handle '82` are manipulated so as to release respecttothe strapg'or band,"orfthel badis moved' 1" '.thebnd from rippinscontact byioottlclamp I with respect 1;@` theetqol, s qf.astbbtingthe fend; ,guideglsand footff; whereupon the tool'is ofthe band ix'i'toth'e` posltlonfsfhowni F185! f wherein the ends are overlapped onthe anviill; and the upper'endthatls tobesevered liesfovilrv cutter IM and isfrictionaily clamped on shoulder m movement whenlvpressure isiexertedupon lip Il, "u of fmt-45 bysrmgu .1 ,ill s theblockdabacked byawall'iil' `(Figi 20) that The operative now mov .handle I2^a"sli gl`1t` distance -to the right'f from`thef 'fu ll `line position' shown in Fig.u1 to pennitfclempvsnfw be rester-ed v is-xreadyv'for iactionupon another strap orband.

whichalsose'rves to stiienthe latter. i Three of `the--sixjpunch receiving recesses"` Il,

by itsspringtococpemtiveposmon with respect gli, speciicallyf` the `flrst, third,` and `fifth from the Y left as the parts are shownlin Fig. 13,1 are bored,

as `previously" described, permit foot, lah-d i through" the anvil i fitfdililiale the `leaning guide. u to be retumredby uiensprings was to i outiofsteel chips orfillings' Vattendant uponthe clamp thestrap lennemi upbnthe pim; an and P`ratin9f the 12001-1 hold iton the support 'M Heialsogreleases pres-v :g5 For the pulpos@ Onf imPrVing the SMLl thehousing bottoni-S3 has formed thereonanuprisin ghump III (Figs.v 1, 21and 22), which is located immediately` belowvthe shank` |05 of lower sureguponthe thumb piece Bfof handle l0 to per' mit iootA 45 to be' returned byitsspring'intocooperative relationship with plug 46. f

` It willbe seen that the underneathnd fthe strap or band is nownmly blampedfby fox- :l0-in the strapl Il (Figs.i1415; 16) when the latter and theparts are in condition" for tenslolllllty` fw isxsverdl in Urder t0 Protect the upper end 0f@ the band by, pulling* upon th@ other end; Whit-:hf4 l the strap and prevent it from catching upon other the :un une positionj:iminitriet4 andrdasnline l mma-"1 v preferably.: composed of hardened` material,:, auch from itsruu une position; thefelampsnadnp as will si1dewitheiieft linfr'ig.: 1,fand1theeby` as. Summe Steek 9nd thi the instructionpun the, endof the'band clamped the:.betv-v"een'` such-as Vtoipermittakeup `forwwear and ready inthe same direction, which motionjslperitted: ,use b "foot 39 because it'WiIlsWin' tofthe-left?runde -1 i i tlxiefihiluence *of the `rnovenen: -It'wil i .beu delfstodzthat various changes may band. On) the return". strokeon slide, the -foot ss will .instant Vilhatt we cllain'i` is:

etition of -the operation ju`s t described `wi sion thelband bit by bitv untilfitljisasftauv desired; and if;V willunderstood-that," fduifi'n'g'f this procedure, spring I'H will permitftheupper free end of the band to `slide onshoulder '.Illot foot 45 because of the angular relationship vof A the said parts andthe factthat the'spririgxriere` tionary elemente; the i. stationary-' element` being ly has a frictional grip uponth'e band. e l rotatably mounted at anranglg to* the'` linee Thereupon it 1S in Order t1? Seal-"thb,and,d movement ofthe movable element,` andmeansto Sever the excess freefenda Which-tis"eomplihdf lig-adjust said stationary element ma `rotary direc: by swinging the handle l0 117013115511111 1.1., "-tionfi'orfbrin'gingi the elements into and mainsition shown in Fig.1 `far overfto theleft. ther e `2.7.'A'deviceof the characterA describedcom# carry the punches 23 to2!! inclusiv'elandjthe bladev I 03 in a downward direction" until, through-[co--l operation with, the a'nvn 95 'find ,the cutrim". V lapped "portions` to each other jand `fox""`sev `ering the werevpmggfgims the S'ggegggg fr thegexcess; portion, of the am, 'sau severing gtaiidrgigg fifior'reirrlilgif" "'s'imultxrie-` meal including ,cpemmg movable "dnstaously the said overlapping portions of the band A Pionary elmems' the-5taft9nary etnentfhaving aregiven the formation represented inthe'said its. longitudinal exisat en, anglemhe line "0f figuresi In this connection` w wm. be observed w movement of the `movable elements. supportthat the perforations forrn'din theband by the me Iinemberfm'` saidvstatlonary element lying at punches are keystons shaped so vthat'thetongues an angle to the said axis of thestationaryeleof the band metal: thus produced provide a 've'ryj-vv A ment` and means for` elevating and depressing eifectve seal or interlockingengagement.: 'Int order to facilitate,thissealingandsevering-step,

tionary element about its said axis for bringing ,overlappedl4 o1 thestrap are;

*neuneu by plete u `ma extends slightly below --hfterjthe strap or bandhas been sealed and I, .severed,athe handle `Iltis returned tothe clashiv inovedflaterally away-from thesealed band, and

, In order tobrace-the block 92 against inward is formed integraiwitn housing bettenv and l cutter `IM and serves to form asllght crimp II,I`

h. clamp ,and y il ,be resorteditdintheform, construction, arrange.'

outledepal n'g'iromthe spiritflandscopeo!` our y invention andhence we do notintendfto bellini ited `tothe:detailsfherein=rshtiwn tandjescribed 1- except las lieirrriay bev included in the c laiinsn LA device of the icharacter"-described,coins` y overlappingfposition,means .for-sealing saidgaverfA lapped i portions-to1 eachother and for severing-y the excess portionof the` strap, `Salmsevering x means including cooperating-movable and Esta-1 V V' l'! 4taining them in precise cooperativej relationship; I by depressing the head" I3' and plunger` I l 'whichprisingfrneans f'orholdingportionsfof a strap`in overlapping positioriyineans for sealing said over-' the extremities of said member `to adjust thestathe elements into and maintaining them in precise cooperative relationship.

3. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including a clamping mechanism and a guiding mechanism, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each other, a lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, a slide in operative contact with said lever and said clamping mechanism, and a rcd and plunger in operative contact with said lever and said guiding mechanism, whereby said lever is adapted to move said clamping and guiding mechanisms to inopera- Y tive positions following operation by said lever of the sealing means.

4. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including a clamping mechanism and a guiding mechanism, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each other, a lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, a slide in operative contact with said clamping mechanism, a rod and plunger in operative contact with said guiding mechanism, and a common element in operative contact with said lever, said lslide and said plunger, whereby said lever is adapted to move said clamping and guiding mechanisms to inoperative positions following operation by said lever of the sealing means.

5. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including a clamping mechanism and a guiding mechanism, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each otherya lever interconnected'with said sealing means for operating it, a slide in operative contact with said clamping mechanism, a rod and plunger in operative contact with said guiding mechanism, and a common element establishing operative contact between said slide and said plunger and having a lost motion connection with said lever for actuation during part of the stroke of the lever, whereby said lever is adapted to move said clamping and guiding mechanisms to and lock them in inoperative positions following operation by said lever of the sealing means.

6. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including gripping mechanism for one portion of the strap and clamping and guiding mechanisms for another portion of the strap, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each other, a lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, a finger in operative contact with said gripping mechanism, a rod and plunger in operative contact with said guiding mechanism, a slide in operative contact with said clamping mechanism, and a common element connected with said lever and in operative contact with said nger, said Vplunger and said slide, whereby said lever is adapted to move said gripping, guiding and clamping mechanisms to inoperative positions following operation by said lever of the sealing means.

'1. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including gripping mechanism for one portion of the strap and clamping and guiding mechanisms for another portion of the strap, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each other, a lever interconnected'with said sealing means for operating it, a finger in operative contact with said gripping mechanism, a rod and plunger in operative contact with said guiding mechanism, a slide in operative contact with said clamping mechanism, and a common element in operative contact with said finger, said plunger and said slide and having a lost motion connection with said lever for actuation during part of the stroke of the lever, whereby said lever is adapted to move said gripping, guiding and clamping mechanisms to and lock them in inoperative positions following operation by said lever of the sealing means.

8. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including a clamping mechanism and a guiding mechanism, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each other, a

lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, and an element in operative contact with said clamping and guiding mechanisms, said lever being also interconnected with said element for moving said clamping andv guiding mechanisms to inoperative positions following operationv by said lever of the sealing means.

9. A device of the character described comprising, mechanism for` gripping one end of a strap, means for tensioning the strap by pulling on the other end and causing it to overlap the first named end, clamping mechanism for holding said other end in tensioned position, means for sealing said overlapped ends to each other,

Y a lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, and an element in operative contact with said gripping and clamping mechanisms, said lever being also interconnected with said element for moving said gripping and clamping mechanisms to inoperative positions following operation by said lever of the sealing means.

10. A device of the character described comprising, mechanism for gripping one end .of a strap, means for tensioning the strap by pulling on the' other end and causing it to overlap the rst named end, guiding mechanism for said strap during tensioning, clamping mechanism for holding said other end in tensioned position, means for sealing said overlapped ends to each other, a lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, and an element in operative contact with said gripping, guiding' and clamping mechanisms, said lever being also lnterconnected with said element for moving said gripping, guiding and clamping mechanisms to inoperative positions following operation by sai leverof the sealing means. 11. A device of the character described comprising, means for holding portions of a strap in overlapping position including a clamping mechansm and a guiding mechanism, means for sealing said overlapped portions to each other, a lever interconnected with said sealing means for operating it, an element in operativek contact with said clamping and guiding mechanisms, said lever being also interconnected with said ele- 

